A letter to our dear cousin

Dearest cousin,

Faithful reader, you are so kind to grace these pages again! My simple words and phrasing shall hopefully express all of the sights and sounds to take in during the recent unpleasantness which took place at Huntington Beach, California. As we heard tell, troops gathered on the afternoon of Friday last, with hundreds encamping to fight to the very death protecting our fair town. There were many represented among us civilians, to include our esteemed President Lincoln, the traitorous Senator Davis, the Widow Peters, numerous shops and tradesmen, the hospital, the Georgia Relief and Hospital Society, D/D Tavern, and of course us, as we took refuge in Mrs Brewer’s Parlour.

Saturday the tensions between the opposing armies mounted as the temperature rose with the sun. I fear that many good soldiers were felled by the intense humidity, which hovered around 80% though falling. They did not engage until nearly half past one, and the fighting lasted through the rest of the day with a brief lapse mid afternoon. Twilight found the camps settled however, and music was apparently heard throughout.

Miss Melody spent the day Saturday exploring the town, collecting sticks and leaves, and entertaining us with music played with her plate and spoon. Her Papa took her walking and the two shared lemonaide, a hot dog, and a new fangled confection made of cake, cream and a chocolate coating, with the unusual appellation of “Ding Dong” although I am uncertain how this is to remind us of church bells ringing. Sunday however, she escaped the heat and humidity with Father, while Mother was tending shop along with Mrs Marshall. Mrs Brewer certainly endeavored to care for us amidst the heat and herself suffering from intense fatigue and ague. Mr J— spent the day in the parlour with us and escorted Mrs Marshall out shopping in the afternoon. Thankfully, the heat was relieved a bit and we were able to enjoy our day more fully. I spent a portion of the day reading to Mrs Brewer from Edgar Allen Poe, the story of Marie Roget. A frightening escapade, that! but I look forward to my next visit with her to continue the story all the same.

With the falling barometer, the tension between the two armies was also lessened and the battle between them, although continued from the day previous and skirmished and engaged throughout the day, was resolved no later than three in the afternoon, allowing a tactical victory to the Federal troops but a victory of morale to the scandalous Confederates who overwhelmed the artillery unit which had taken up position at the area closest to the the town. It was a fearful moment to see our boys in blue overtaken with butternut, gray and brown. Fortunately for us, the Southern men were gentlemen in their deeds and allowed the gunners to live, and they did not sack the town.

My dear, I must close this now, for Miss Melody begs my attention, as a young girl must of her mother. I hope that I will hear from you in the near future with news of home in New York. Until then, I remain,

Your faithful cousin,
Mrs Mattie Marvel

Post Script, I enclose herein a carte de visite which was made during this eventful weekend by a traveling photographer, of Mrs Marshall resting within Mrs Brewer’s parlour. The fatigue of this terrible war can be seen in her eyes. We are all tired of the uncertainty and pray to the heavens that peace will soon be restored to our great nation!
MM

Mrs Marshall

Published in:  on September 8, 2009 at 1:01 pm Comments (1)

Huntington Beach Civil War

Benefiting the Huntington Beach Historical Society, the annual Huntington Beach Civil War Encampment is coming up fast on September 5-6! We are really excited about this as it will be our first time there with our parlour. In the past we have visited with friends at the encampment, but never to set up. The event is FREE to the public (need a better reason to attend?) and takes place in the lush Huntington Central Park, on the Gothard side. There is plenty of shade, wide paved walkways, grass and of course, we will be there. Details and directions can be found at surfcityusa.com.

You can do a little reenacting yourself without getting into a costume, here’s how: the citizens of Washington DC took picnic lunches out to watch the 1st Battle of Bull Run, a humiliating rout of the Federal troops which resulted in a pell mell retreat. Both Saturday and Sunday in Huntington Beach, there will be battles between Federal and Confederate troops. Bring your own picnic lunch and watch one army surpass the other. It is recommended you bring a blanket or folding chair, and stake out your seat early to get a great view. It is not recommended that you bring your dog due to the numerous artillery blasts and constant rifle barrage during the battles. Battles last from 30-60 minutes.

After the battle (or before, your preference) be sure to tour the military camps to learn about military life during the war, visit the suttlers (merchants) who followed the military selling necessities and some fripperies, and tour the civilian camps to learn about home life while the men were away. Sales of food and drink will benefit the Huntington Beach Historical Society.

And don’t forget, this is the bicentennial anniversary year of Abraham Lincoln’s birth! Meet the great President Lincoln and hear his esteemed speech, The Gettysburg Address.

We hope to see you there!

Published in:  on August 18, 2009 at 2:36 am Leave a Comment

Mother’s Day Weekend

As we prepare for our various fetes this weekend, let us ask for safe travels, good friends, and fond memories to be made.  Saturday Mrs Marshall will be demonstrating at the Lucy Lane House Museum at Calico Ghost Town in Yermo, CA (just 20 minutes east of Barstow).  We hope you’ll find time to stop in and chat, listen to some bluegrass music and otherwise enjoy the Spring Festival.  Sunday Mrs Brewer and Mrs Marvel plan to visit the brand new ACWS event at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, CA.  This is the park by Estancia High School and Fairview Golf Couse, the one that has the train.  Perhaps we will see you there.

In honor of Mother’s Day, the following was sent to me in an email.  I do not know the source but will gladly credit it because it is excellent writing and well researched.  If you know the source please let us know in the comments.

The History of Mother’s day can be traced back to a 17th century English celebration called “Mothering Sunday”, a Christian celebration on the 4th Sunday of Lent in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus. In the United States, Mother’s day was loosely inspired by the British day and was first suggested after the Civil War by social activist Julia Ward Howe (author of the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.) In 1872 she began promoting the idea of “Mother’s Day for Peace” to be celebrated on the second Sunday of every June. Although the observance lasted little more than ten years, to acknowledge her achievements a stamp was issued in her honor in 1988.

Howe’s idea was influenced by Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker, who started “Mother’s Friendship Day” in 1858 to help mothers improve sanitation in their homes. During the Civil War Ann was instrumental in saving thousands of lives by teaching women in her “Mother’s Friendship Clubs” the basics of nursing and sanitation which she learned from her famous physician brother James Reeves.

Ann’s daughter Anna Jarvis, a school teacher and graduate from the Female Seminary in Wheeling, West Virginia, never married and cared for her mother until her death on May 9, 1905. Following he mother’s passing Anna Jarvis decided to dedicate her life to her mother’s cause and to establish Mother’s Day to “honor mothers, living and dead.”

As a result of Anna’s efforts the first Mothers Day was observed on May 10, 1908 with a church service at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, the church in which her mother taught Sunday school for over 20 years. Grafton is now the home of the International Mother’s Day Shrine.

The first Mother’s Day proclamation was issued by the governor of West Virginia in 1910; by 1911 every state in the Union had its own observance of Mother’s Day. On May 9, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday to be observed each year on the second Sunday in May.

As the holiday exploded in popularity and became increasingly commercialized, the eccentric Anna Jarvis spoke out publicly against the exploitation of what she started as a religious observance. In one press release criticizing the floral industry Anna wrote: “What will you do to route charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers, and other termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations?”

In 1934 Postmaster General James A. Farley announced a stamp to commemorate Mother’s Day featuring the famous painting of Whistler’s Mother, brought in to the United States from England in 1934 as part of an international art exhibit.  Anna Jarvis was so incensed by the announcement that she persuaded President Roosevelt to remove the words “Mothers Day” from the stamp.

Anna Jarvis was at the end of her life penniless and confined to a nursing home. Unbeknownst to her, all her nursing home bills were all paid by the Florist Exchange!

In a recent National Retail Federation survey, in spite of the current downturn in consumer spending, Americans still intend to spend more than $2 billion on flowers this Mother’s Day.

According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is the largest single day for restaurant sales in United States, larger than Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas Eve.

Published in:  on May 8, 2009 at 5:48 am Leave a Comment